The Be Unbound Podcast

Today, we're bringing you a special presentation from Riley Maas, one of our many talented communicators at Unbound. Riley recently shared this keynote presentation at our Capstone event as we wrapped up this year's Ascend program. You'll hear Riley break down the concept of mentorship and connections, making it both practical and relatable. You'll learn about the idea of the 1% me...

When so many young adults fail to thrive as they enter adulthood, what separates those who find success? In this episode of the Be Unbound podcast, we pick up the conversation from our last episode and explore the fragility we've seen in today's young adults—especially college students. We're joined by Trent Emmack, an admissions counselor for Unbound and our resident deep thinker, to...

In this episode of the Be Unbound podcast, we discuss the declining state of traditional education and its shift toward a transactional relationship. Some recent articles from researchers and college professors have shed light on an alarming and depressing trend: college students have become little more than human assistants for AI bots. Rampant AI cheating and the lack of academic integrity among...

In this episode, we tackle the pressing issue of 'adulting' and why the term itself is harmful. Jonathan, David, and Trent talk about the shortcomings of the current education system in preparing young adults for real-world responsibilities. We explore the importance of having a clear purpose, the disparity between academic skills and practical life skills, and the absolutely essential rol...

In this episode of the Be Unbound podcast, we talk about alternative approaches to education with our guest, Justin McGeary, from Trinity House Tutorials. We dive into the ancient Oxford tutorial system, a uniquely intensive and conversational way of learning that emphasizes critical thinking, essay writing, and personalized feedback. Justin shares how he is applying this time-honored method to to...

In this episode of the Be Unbound podcast, we explore the nuanced differences between traditional leadership and influence. We discuss why the pursuit of fame, fortune, and power often leads to cynicism and despair and how shifting focus to influence can foster genuine positive change. Joining us is Victoria Schurter - VP of Content and Development at Unbound - to provide insights from her experie...

In this episode of the Be Unbound podcast, we explore whether it's worth it to try. Looking effortless may seem cool, especially across social media, but true growth often comes from trying, failing, and trying again. We also talk about the Christian perspective on work and worship. Even the most mundane tasks can have eternal significance. We invite you to listen as we challenge the notion th...

Today, we're talking with Victoria, the director of our academic programs here at Unbound, about the topic of ownership. We talk a lot about ownership and taking responsibility with the students at Unbound, and finding the balance between controlling our actions and surrendering outcomes to God. But where is the fine line between healthy ownership and overstepping what God has called us to? Vi...

In this episode of the Be Unbound podcast, co-hosts Jonathan Brush and David Rethemeyer, along with guest Trent Emmack, ask the question: where does our identity come from? Are we born with a fixed identity, or can we create our own? We all share personal stories about how our identities were shaped by family, academic achievements, faith, and life-changing events like the COVID-19 pandemic. We al...

We're back together for another conversation in our Unbound Talks series. Today, we dive into the profound topic of finding joy, meaning, and worship in everyday activities and blessings. Randy Alcorn's article and book "60 Days of Happiness" prompted a great discussion about how God meant us to experience happiness- is it our goal, a distraction, or just another part of life? From...

In this episode of the Be Unbound podcast, we are back in the studio after a short break, and we have some exciting updates and discussions for you. We dive into two intriguing articles: one about the impact of regulations on engine building in California and another about overcoming phone addiction through reading. We explore the tension between moving forward with technology and maintaining trad...

In this episode of the Be Unbound podcast, we are honored to chat with an incredible guest, Melissa Fisher. From her early start in nursing straight out of high school, to working in some of the most challenging ICU environments during the height of the COVID pandemic, and to her mission work in Ethiopia, Melissa's story is both humbling and inspiring. Melissa talks about her experience of pro...

In this episode of the Be Unbound podcast, we kick off the year with an incredible guest - New York Times bestselling author Andy Andrews. Andy shares his journey from a talkative child who faced personal tragedy to becoming a renowned author, speaker, and Professional Noticer. He discusses the impact of reading biographies on his life, the seven principles that transformed him, and his inspiring...

In this special episode of the Be Unbound podcast, you get to hear a fun, behind-the-scenes conversation about the Ascend program with several Unbound students. We're joined by current and former Ascend students Emma, Ian, Chloe, Olivia, Jess, Kian, and Iona as they share hilarious and heartwarming stories from their experiences together. From quirky pranks involving rubber snakes and surprise...

We're so excited to share this heartfelt fireside chat with Riley, an Unbound alum who's known for her multi-faceted talents and meaningful life experiences. Riley shares her journey, from the nerve-wracking audition for a children's choir that became a defining moment, to becoming a versatile professional balancing roles in accounting and theater. Her cheerfulness and positivity will...

In this episode of the Be Unbound podcast, we dive deep into the concept of resilience, highlighting its importance as the opposite of naivety and as an understanding of living with hope in a broken world. We share some personal stories from recent events and discuss the power of 'not yet' in God's timing. David reflects on his recent marriage and their life-changing honeymoon in Rome....

Veteran podcaster Paul Hastings, creator of the Compelled podcast, joins us for this episode of the Be Unbound podcast for an intriguing conversation about storytelling and faith. We chat with Paul about his inspiring journey from a career in politics to creating a platform that shares incredible stories of redemption and transformation in people's lives. He shares how an intense series of per...

In this episode, we welcome Kari Elliott, who shares her extraordinary journey of Christian service. Starting as photographers, Kari and her husband Dan transitioned into unexpected missionaries in Haiti, founding Bibles for Haiti. Kari recounts how God opened doors and led them on a path they never imagined. The episode kicks off with a deep dive into Kari’s story, from managing a successful phot...

Welcome back to the Be Unbound podcast! We're delighted to be joined in this episode by Abe Chen, former cohost of this podcast turned Senior Videographer for a marketing agency. Abe shares insights from his journey in videography, including a unique concept he calls 'undistracting excellence.' We talk about the nuances of storytelling through video, the importance of excellence in art...

In this episode of the Be Unbound Podcast, we sit down with the extraordinary Julia Gottfried, one of our own Unbound alumni, who has chosen an unconventional path of faith, education, and mentorship. From her roots in a farming community, to a real estate career at 18, to a transformative mission year traveling across the U.S. and Jamaica, and now to coaching students, Julia shares her unique per...

In this episode of the Be Unbound podcast, we welcome Nadine Lauffer, a recent homeschool graduate and college-bound student, to discuss her transformative homeschooling journey. Nadine shares her initial struggles comparing her home school experience to those in public school. An experience she had at a homeschool convention shifted her perspective, and she discovered a drive to help other homesc...

Trent Schrock joins us on the Be Unbound podcast for a practical conversation on how to set young people up for financial success. Trent shares his background and journey, detailing his shift from social work to landscape design and his creation of the Freedom Program. We talk about the complex relationship between Christians and money, and the temptation we all have of letting it dominate our liv...

What makes Christian art cringy vs. compelling? Briley Crisafi joins us on this episode for a conversation on making art from a Christian worldview. No matter what kind of art she's making, Briley centers herself on storytelling - from songwriting, to choreography, to acting, to production. Briley is an Unbound alum, and has gone onto use her talents in a professional capacity in musical theat...

Kevin and Becky Laramee are long time friends, volunteers, and figurative adoptive parents of Unbound. They share a delightful mix of heartfelt marriage wisdom, thrilling stories of exploration, and insights into the lifelong partnership of marriage. Kevin and Becky share their experiences from 36 years of marriage and how they've grown together through every joy and sorrow. They also recount...

We're very excited to welcome back Unbound alum and former host of the Be Unbound Podcast Ben Billups to share his unique insights on learning, growth, and resilience. From the self-driven faith instilled by his parents, he reflects on his career journey from freelancing and filmmaking to founding Noble, his current company. Ben discusses intentionally seeking out discomfort and the importance...